Chapter 12: Hunsford Reimagined

Mr. Darcy was nursing his third glass of whiskey and thinking of Elizabeth when she entered. The hour must have been well past midnight, yet Elizabeth still wore her green evening dress, with a blue shawl around her shoulders. She did not see him by the fire, so she quietly perused the sparse shelves for something to read. She seemed content to merely wander, as she rarely pulled a book off the shelf to consider it. He briefly wondered if the smell of the library brought her peace as it did him.

As if she sensed him, she turned around. She did not startle or scream, as a woman of the ton might have done to claim compromise. He smiled. "Good evening, Miss Bennet. Would you like a hand in picking a book to read?" Without waiting for a response, he quickly moved beside her.

Elizabeth backed away slightly, smelling the alcohol on his breath. "I simply wanted something to -"

"To distract you." He smiled again. "I am ready to provide you with any distraction you require."

To be certain, he did distract her. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, even though there was about a foot between them. He looked at her with such intensity, it was hard for her to remember that she hoped to read a book. He was very handsome; she had always thought so. But he looked different tonight, relaxed, almost. "You are drunk."

"Liquid courage, so they say."

Elizabeth scrunched her forehead as she asked, "Courage for what?"

"This." Mr. Darcy reached up, pulled a berry from a nearby mistletoe, and handed it to her as he quickly set his lips upon hers. She did not pull away, nor did she react to the kiss. Wondering at her response, he pulled away. Her forehead was still creased.

"That was lovely," he said with a smile. He was about to reach for her hand when she stepped back to put more space between them.

"I suppose." Elizabeth had never felt more confused in her life. He did think well of her, it would seem. She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Lovely is a vast improvement to tolerable."

It was his turn to appear confused. "Who could think of you so meanly? Almost from the beginning of our acquaintance, you have beguiled me."

Elizabeth let out a soft chuckle. "You say pretty words now. But surely you remember saying those very words at the assembly before we were introduced. Bingley wished to introduce us, but I was not handsome enough to tempt you."

Mr. Darcy paled as he remembered his words. "You are not a classical beauty, that is all I meant. At Lucas Lodge, I began to study you, and I could find no real fault no matter how long I searched."

Once again, Elizabeth laughed. "And here I thought you were cataloging all my faults. I said as much to Charlotte Lucas."

"Your faults! Why would I stare at a woman to catalog her faults? I would much rather look upon that which I admire. Besides, your faults would not fill a page, much less a book."

"You speak very prettily when you are drunk. I almost believe you." Elizabeth smiled, thoroughly delighted with his speeches.

"Oh, Elizabeth, it is your eyes that first caught my notice. Your feelings are so freely written through them. You are enchanting, and the shine in your eyes make my knees shake, such is my desire to kiss you again." On impulse, he stepped close enough that her skirt just barely touched his trousers. His heart was beating fast enough, he was afraid it might burst out of his chest.

Elizabeth felt entirely unable to follow the conversation, but she preferred not to think about kissing. "My eyes." It seemed like a safe enough topic.

"I can read every thought in your eyes. They light up in joy and anger. Your expressions of delight fill me with a joy I have rarely felt. I have tried to calm my heart. After all, your connections leave much to be desired, but I am willing to put them aside to ask you to marry me. Marry me, Elizabeth, and I shall ensure that every day is filled with bliss."

Whatever she thought he would say, this was not it. She was stunned into silence. This gave him a chance to move forward and kiss her again. A small, chaste kiss on the lips. He stopped when she pushed him back. She watched him lick his lips and smile.

"You are willing to put my connections aside, sir. Do you expect me to do the same?" She did not dare mention the kiss which sent shivers down her sides.

"Naturally, your family are a part of you. While I would not relish the connections, I would never tell you to sever any connection that brings you joy. I love you, my dearest Elizabeth. I shall learn to be content in their presence."

Elizabeth laughed at the absurdity. "You must learn to be content. You are drunk, sir, and insensible. In the light of day, you will regret this hasty proposal. Indeed, I rather wonder if you will even remember it."

"I am not that drunk." Mr. Darcy said, suddenly more sober as he wondered at Elizabeth's reaction. "Marry me, Elizabeth. I shall adore you as you deserve."

"As I deserve!" Elizabeth smiled. "You should drink more often. You are as flattering as Lord Devon. I can refuse his advances, and I can refuse yours. I am not inclined to marry at present."

"Lord Devon will not marry you. You should take care. He will flirt, but he loves gambling too much to marry a woman of no fortune." Mr. Darcy scowled at the thought of Elizabeth in Lord Devon's embrace. He took her hand. "I have fortune enough for the both of us. All our children will be well provided for."

"You have planned for many children, then." Elizabeth arched her eyebrow at his audacity.

"It is inevitable that we will have many children, for I have no plans to be separated from you once we marry."

"It is only inevitable if I agree to marry you." Elizabeth took a step back.

"You have no dowry, shameful connections to trade, embarrassing relatives, and despite your manifold attractions, very few reasonable prospects. I have more than enough money to overlook your lack of dowry, connections to nobility, many tell me I am handsome, and I promise to love you and keep you happy. How can you reject my offer of marriage?"

"Because you are drunk and insulting! If you are so sought after, choose someone to marry who relishes your connections. I must leave now." She turned away to quit the room, but he caught her hand.

"And yet, you let me kiss you. Would you have let Mr. Collins kiss you? Or Lord Devon?"

Elizabeth shuddered at the thought. "You caught me off guard."

"You are not indifferent to me. You said you would never be caught unawares under the mistletoe, yet you stand here still. Do you desire another kiss to show you how much I love you? To show you how much your passionate nature will bond with mine." She did not pull away as he came closer, despite her very articulate no. He cupped her cheek with both hands. She still did not pull away. "A kiss is just the beginning of how I shall love you, dearest Elizabeth… Lizzy."

This kiss was not chaste. He was gentle yet firm as he slowly encouraged her to open up to him, and he left her completely breathless. "Marry me and every day, I will make you feel like this and more."

Unable to deny how he had made her feel, she changed the subject. "Ask me when you are sober. When you can manage to tolerate my family without criticism. No one wants to be at odds with their family. I love them. I do not love you."

She left before he could speak again. He watched her leave and then turned his gaze to the floor where the mistletoe berry he had given her had dropped, unloved.

AN: This is very short and sweet, which is not quite the purpose of the Hunsford proposal, but we needed the words spoken, and I just couldn't have them at odds. This was so much fun to write. I should have made it longer, but I didn't want to overdo it. Anyway, the next chapter is being edited as we speak, so it should be up soon. Make sure you leave me some good reviews. Two other stories popped into my head and I need them to go to sleep until this story comes to a conclusion. Your positive reviews will help with that.